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02/24/2009
4/20: The 'Truth' is that their booking will rightfully raise some eyebrows
On 4/20/09, the tenth anniversary of the tragic Columbine shooting, American citizens will spend the day remembering victims, mourning losses, and continuing the national conversation about how we can more fully protect our children while at school. Unfortunately on that same day, Exodus International and the Alliance Defense Fund will once again team up to create the sort of non-accepting environment that can make gay students more vulnerable to a whole host of (sometimes tragic) harms:
Orlando, FL- Two Christian organizations are teaming up to empower youth to express their views on sexuality by co-sponsoring this year's annual Day of Truth event held April 20 on high school campuses nationwide. Exodus International, a ministry that helps those affected by same-sex attraction to live a life that reflects their biblical beliefs and Alliance Defense Fund, a legal support organization, are co-sponsoring the event this year and are hoping for a record turnout that will continue ongoing dialogue on issues surrounding faith and sexuality.
Originally designed to give students an opportunity to openly voice their views regarding theGLSEN-driven Day of Silence event, the Alliance Defense Fund first launched the Day of Truth four years ago. The event has grown from a handful of students to over 13,000 participants in all 50 states. As the movement has grown, the vision has expanded beyond providing legal assistance to ensure student rights to providing practical resources to students wanting to help peers dealing with same-sex attraction. The relational aspect of this event has become the dominant focus and as such, Exodus International will assume leadership in the future...
FULL: Exodus International & Alliance Defense Fund Team Up For Day of Truth Event [Exodus]
Yes, that's right -- the anti-gay movement's annual "Hey, let's foster the lie that gays can 'change'" Day is back again this spring. And as already stated: The movement will this year experience the added burden of having their always questionable endeavor even more fully questioned because of it being booked on the tenth anniversary of the Columbine tragedy. At the very least, it will be seen as an unfortunate choice. At the most, this will be seen as an opportunity to discuss the connections between anti-gay/pro"ex-gay" bias and school violence. Either way, someone at Exodus/ADF really should have done a simple Google search before rushing to book their hurtful/dangerous soiree!
On the flip side, the pro-gay Day of Silence is booked for 4/17, the same day that Apollo 13 returned safely to earth. Here's hoping they will this year succeed in bringing some minds safely back from the "gays can change" clouds.
Your thoughts
This team up sounds like a broken down shack with a coat of fresh paint splashed on it. Hasn't the Allied Defense Fund and Exodus International teamed up in the past to spread lies during their so-called Day of Truth? (Sorry but I'm home sick and in rare form).
Posted by: a. mcewen | Feb 24, 2009 3:24:26 PM
Huh, 420. Let's see... Columbine, Hitler's Birthday and a celebration of the Stickiest of the Icky. Man, these nuts can sure pick the dates!
Posted by: EdgyB | Feb 24, 2009 3:32:46 PM
Alvin: Yea, Exodus has always had a hand in it, if an unofficial one. The videos they have put out in support of DOT have always featured Exodus staffers.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Feb 24, 2009 3:39:02 PM
Urgh. I will be participating in the Day of Silence, so DOT seems like just a big blow to what we're trying to accomplish.
Posted by: Clicky the Fox | Feb 24, 2009 8:09:33 PM
"Exodus International, a ministry that helps those affected by same-sex attraction to live a life that reflects their biblical beliefs and Alliance Defense Fund, a legal support organization, are co-sponsoring the event this year and are hoping for a record turnout that will continue ongoing dialogue on issues surrounding faith and sexuality."
When I read this sentence, what I understood was " Help you to live 'their" beliefs (meaning the singular idea of life that Exodus preaches). I also love the thought that they "will continue ongoing dialogue" Doesn't that mean two sides to the discussion?
Posted by: Bob Miller | Feb 24, 2009 8:30:21 PM
My school is on vacation on the 17th, so we're holding our own day of silence on the 21st. The local fundies don't know we're having one at all because of this. They think they're gonna get off easy. They aren't.
Posted by: Claire | Feb 24, 2009 9:17:40 PM
Hey, guys. Sorry to rain on your parade, but GLSEN has held the Day of Silence on April 20th, too (in 2005 to be exact). Are we going to be conspiracy theorists about them, too? See links below.
http://www.uncc.edu/campusevents/event_details.asp?eventID=6776
Posted by: Blackstone | Mar 7, 2009 10:12:25 PM
Blackstone: No rain. No "conspiracy theory" (a term that doesn't really apply here anyway, since we're not proposing that any improper backstage machinations are going on). It's surely a little inappropriate for ANY group to hold a school event of this sort on this particular day.
But the difference, of course, is that DOS encourages peace and non-harassment while DOT, a gay to encourage anti-gay rhetoric, arguably increases the same. This is even more highlighted in light of last year's tragic Lawrence King situation.
And then there's also the 10th anniversary element, which, in the numbers and milestones focused society of ours, only puts more light on the '09 edition of Columbine remembrance.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Mar 7, 2009 10:48:16 PM
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